1956 -- In a controversial decision, the Dwight D. Eisenhower Administration ends a seven-year antitrust suit against AT&T. By consent decree, AT&T is allowed to keep its Western Electric manufacturing subsidiary in return for staying out of the computer business.

1981 -- Opening arguments in U.S. vs. AT&T are made. Defense Secretary Caspar W. Weinberger opposes the AT&T breakup on national security grounds, but by year's end AT&T directors authorize the company to negotiate the breakup of the Bell system.

1990 -- AT&T cuts long-distance rates an average of 2.2%, the 11th decrease since the breakup, for a total of 43%.

1991 -- After five months of negotiations, AT&T signs a deal to buy computer maker NCR Corp., the former National Cash Register Corp., for $7.4 billion.

1991 -- Annual profit falls 83% due to the cost of a restructuring designed to eliminate 14,000 jobs by 1994 in former NCR businesses and its money-losing phone equipment business. Its long-distance market share, after years of losses to MCI, stabilizes at about 59%.

1992 -- Revenue from computer operations fall, the start of a downtrend.